Unite Union members will picket the Wellington call centre of Positive Airflow Limited for sacking a worker and union member without reason under the National Party’s 90 day probationary period law. Positive Airflow Ltd sells Heat Recovery Ventilation (HRV) units.*

"Lisa Stoneham, a young worker, left a previous job to take up employment at the call centre. Days into her job however, she was told that she was fired and has now enrolled for an unemployment benefit,” said Wellington Unite organiser Matt Jones.

“Lisa was never given any notice or warning before she was fired and was not even told the reason for being dismissed”. The 90 day probationary period provides employers with the ability to treat workers like tools, to be picked up and put down at will without respect for how they can feed themselves or pay rent, said Matt Jones.

“We are calling on the company to reinstate Lisa and to remove the 90 day probationary period from its employees contracts. We are also calling for National to revoke the 90 day probationary period law before more vulnerable workers lose their jobs,” concluded Matt Jones.

The picket is on Home Street (behind Kent Terrace), Wellington, from 12.30pm on Wednesday 9th December.

For more information contact:
Matt Jones on 029 201 3837 or email matthew@unite.org.nz

Update

Last year the government changed the law to allow small employers to fire new workers without having to give a reason. At the time Unite vowed to publicly expose any employers who used this anti-worker law.

We made good this promise on 9th December last year when the Wellington call centre of Positive Airflow Limited was picketed for sacking a worker and union member without reason under the National Party’s 90 day probationary period law. Positive Airflow Ltd sells Heat Recovery Ventilation (HRV) units.

Unite made sure that the company’s neighbours and wider community knew that this is NOT a good place to work. The turnout was great, with over 30 people putting the pressure on HRV. Union organisers, workers, activists, MP’s and the Brass Razoo! band made the message loud and clear.